Worthless Things

July 12th, 2012 dsisler

If you are like me, there are items in your home that have been in storage for some time and that you perhaps haven’t seen for years. I, in fact, have a basement full of such items.
The items that mean the most to me are carefully stored in plastic tubs on shelves. Decorations for Christmas, autumn, and other seasons are neatly packed away. Carefully placed where I can find them.
However, the rest of my basement could use some attention. I do have it somewhat organized. For instance, I have a “baby” corner. That is where you’ll find the portable play pen, baby swing, high chair, and anything else infant related. Each time I place an item in that corner, I think it’s the last time I’ll be using it, then “surprise!” I’m a Baba again! These are the best surprises.
There is a section where the items belong to my husband. If he’s looking for something specific, he knows where he can search. The same can be said for my children. They know where their specific section is.
But, the rest of the basement is filled with items that I haven’t been able to part with…up until this point. My basement is filled with worthless things. And I sigh each time I head to the basement.
Worthless things tend to get hold of us and then we find it difficult to rid ourselves of said items. Sometimes we are overwhelmed with the abundance of worthless things and don’t know where to start in getting rid of them. Perhaps we don’t have the energy or the ability to dispose of them.
Whatever the case, these worthless things need to be thrown away or given away because of the mental energy that is expended in thinking of these things or the physical energy used to move the worthless stuff around. There is a reason they are called “worthless things.”
Scripture has a few things to say about worthless things. Let’s see what God’s Word brings to this topic.
Proverbs 11:4 (NIV) tells us, “Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.” Money is important, yes, necessary for our daily lives. And it is crucial that our attitude toward wealth stay in line with God’s Word. But in the end, on judgment day, wealth will be worthless. Money will not buy your way to eternity in God’s presence. Wealth will be worthless on that day.
“All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless.” (Isaiah 44:9a – NIV) You’ve heard it before, anything that we place before God in our lives is an idol. Television, internet, friends, busyness, possessions, and the list could go on and on. When we take a good look at ourselves, we are able to find those idols in our lives. These worthless “treasures” should be disposed of. They have shouldn’t have a place in our lives.
This next verse adds a consequence of having worthless idols in our lives. “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.” (Jonah 2:8 – NIV) Forfeiting grace is not what I want. If these worthless idols in my life are affecting the grace God has to bestow upon me, they are truly worthless. Nothing, nothing is worth forfeiture of God’s grace!
After healing a man in Lystra, Paul and Barnabas were considered to be gods who had come to live among the people. Paul and Barnabas were so upset by the crowd’s reaction that they tore their clothing and began shouting. “Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.” (Acts 14:15 – NIV)
The worthless things in Lystra had led the people to a misunderstanding of whom and what Paul and Barnabas were. They can have the same effect on our lives if we allow the worthless things of this world to become prominent. We must turn from the worthless things to the living God. It is only through Him that we are able to find complete worth.
Now that we know what worthless things bring with them, why would we want to have anything to do with anything worthless? David knew how these things could draw him into their worthlessness and he prayed this prayer. It’s one that we can use when we are captured by anything that just doesn’t matter.
In Psalm 119:37 (NIV), David says, “Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.”Let’s make this our prayer today. To keep our eyes focused on God and not on worthless things.
The time and energy lost by sifting through all the worthless things is indeed wasted time and energy. Perhaps this is the summer for the worthless items in my basement to be purged. But more importantly, it’s time to purge the worthless things in my spiritual life. What about you? Do you have any purging to do?
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
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20/20

July 11th, 2012 dsisler

I have an eye appointment tomorrow. It’s been well over a year since my last check up and I am beginning to see (or not see) the reason for making this appointment.
My vision isn’t as clear as it was when I first got my glasses.
In years past, I’ve tried bi-focals. I need them. But as much as I’ve tried, I’ve always gone back to ask for single-vision lenses. I’ve added a pair of reading glasses to the mix. They haven’t worked well for me either. So my only option is take off my glasses to do any reading.
Maybe this is the year that I can make bi-focals work. I doubt it, but you never know.
I am fortunate. I can see fairly well without my glasses. On my last visit to my optometrist, I was told that my vision was actually getting better! But if my children or my husband were to remove their glasses, nothing would be in focus.
There are times that I take my vision for granted, but when things become blurry or out of focus, I realize how blessed I am to have the vision I have.
Our spiritual eyes can get out of focus as well. If we are not focusing on Jesus or God’s Word, we can lose sight of all that God has in store for us.
My dear friend, King David, spoke of such times in the book of Psalm. Psalm 119 holds a wealth of wisdom, but in reading through this chapter, I found David’s vision failing.
Psalm 119:82 (NIV) says, “My eyes fail, looking for your promise; I say, ‘When will you comfort me?’” And in Psalm 119:123 (NIV) David repeats the idea. “My eyes fail, looking for your salvation, looking for your righteous promise.”
David shares what are thought to be his devotions in Psalm 119. In this chapter, we see David in multiple situations and times of joy or despair. These two verses seem to show David during vulnerable periods.
Poor eye sight, used in the Old Testament, were images of failing strength, grief, or depleted hope. In these verses, David was experiencing suffering. His spiritual vision was failing. He asked that God intervene and fulfill the promises He had made.
But we also see a vigilant David. David who knew that God keeps the promises He makes. Psalm 119:148 (NIV) shows us this David. “My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises.”
Yes, David knew of God’s promises. He had seen some of them fulfilled in his lifetime. And what better words to think of through the night than God’s abundant promises? During these times, David’s spiritual vision was 20/20.
For us, we should ask God to bring our spiritual vision in line with His. Another verse in this chapter gives the perfect words to pray. “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” (Psalm 119:18 – NIV)
God has so much to teach us. God has so much in store for us. God has so many promises yet to be fulfilled in our lives. We simply need to keep our eyes focused on Him. We must keep our eyes open to see what we are to learn. We must wait patiently for Him to do His work within us.
I pray that you won’t take your vision for granted. Your physical vision or your spiritual vision. Neither should we neglect the care of either. Proper nutrition, exercise, and protection are invaluable for our physical vision. The same can be said for our spiritual vision.
With a healthy dose of Bible reading and study, prayer time, fellowship with believers, and the armor of God for protection, we can greatly improve our spiritual vision.
How is your vision today?
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
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My Senses

July 10th, 2012 dsisler

I read a lot of blog posts each day. Some are spiritual in nature. Some are associated with the publishing field. Others speak directly to writing. A recent blog post about writing shared the idea of using our five senses to speak to our audience.
I was intrigued by the thought, so decided to try it. Using the five senses given by God, I will show how I see, feel, taste, hear, and smell God.
I See God’s Handiwork
Living in Colorado has allowed me to see God’s handiwork up close and personal. The Rocky Mountains, wild-flower covered meadows, glacial lakes, animals of all sizes, a big sky with thousands of stars, and the faces of my children and grandchildren.

Because I believe that God is the Creator of all, I see His handiwork in all that I see. Genesis chapter 1 gives the account of God’s creation. From “Let there be light” to “Let us make man in our image.” (Genesis 1:3a, 26a – NIV)

God’s handiwork can be seen anywhere. We simply need to open our eyes to see Him.
I Feel God’s Love
Of all the books in the Bible, we can see the abundant examples of God’s love in 1 John. If you haven’t read it in a while, or if you cannot feel God’s love around you, read through it. Several times. You’ll begin to feel God’s love.
The verses that stand out to me are:
1 John 3:1 (NIV) “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”
1 John 4:8 (NIV) “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
1 John 4:9 (NIV) “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.”
1 John 5:2 (NIV) “This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.”
You see we can feel God’s love when we produce love for others and follow His commands.
I Taste God’s Goodness
I don’t know that there is anything better than a great taste on my tongue. It might be sweet or salty; spicy or mild; creamy or chunky; chocolate or non-chocolate. If it is the right combination, my mouth waters with delight.
That’s the way it is with God. Except that His goodness tastes good all the time! There isn’t a time when He gets it wrong.
Psalm 34:8 (NIV) says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”
God’s Word is also described by taste buds. Psalm 119:103 (NIV) says, “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
I understand these analogies. I love to eat. I know exactly what David is trying to say in these verses. Unfortunately, when I substitute food for God’s goodness and His Word, I am filling my life with lies, not truth. How are you doing on this one?
I Hear God’s Voice
Hearing God’s voice is a controversial topic. I have never audibly heard God speak to me, but I hear what God is saying to me. Through His Scripture, through His messengers, through my meditation. I hear what God wants to say to me.

Jesus said in John 8:47a (NIV), “Whoever belongs to God hears what God says.” When my heart is in tune with God’s teachings, I hear what God says. Loud and clear.
Oh, what it would have been like to be with Jesus and to hear His teachings! That would have been glorious. Luke 5:1 (NIV) says, “One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God.” The people of that time had an opportunity to hear God speak directly to them. How blessed they were.
And like the crowd that followed Jesus, I want to hear all that Jesus has to say by reading and studying God’s Word, by listening to those who preach the Gospel, and when God’s Spirit stops me in my tracks to get my attention, I will listen.
I Smell God’s Fragrance
In Hosea 14, Israel finds the blessings that come from repentance. God’s healing. God’s refreshment. God’s life-giving nourishment. God’s provision. God’s comfort. And God’s splendor that would be as the fragrance of the cedar trees of Lebanon.
The cedars of Lebanon were famous. Famous for their value and for what was built from them. Royal homes and temples dotted the landscape of the Near East and these structures were built from the cedars of Lebanon.
They also must have had the most wonderful scent, because God’s splendor was compared to that scent.
I know what cedar smells like. It is a scent that is like nothing else. That is what God smells like. Now I may have to purchase some of those cedar blocks for my closet.
Well those are my thoughts on my senses and God. I’m thankful to have all my senses, for I know there are those who do not have the luxury of having all five. I pray that each day I will take the time to use my senses to find God.
What about you? What could you add to my list? How do you see, feel, taste, hear, or smell God? I’d love to hear from you!
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
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Building a Doll House: The Creator – Chapter 6

July 9th, 2012 dsisler

NOTE: If you missed Chapters 1-5 of Building a Doll House, you can find it in the column under “blog archive” to the right.
I knew my husband was an engineer when I married him. What I didn’t know was how that was going to affect every aspect of our lives.
Years ago, we built a loft bed for Bethany. To me, it looked like four legs, four sides, a base and some stabilizing pieces. But to Mason, it was a reflection of who he was. It had to be perfect. And if it wasn’t, more than likely, it would have to be taken apart and re-done.
It was no different with building the doll house. Each piece and part had to be placed with precise measurements and absolute certainty. For the perfectionist engineer, nothing less would do.
Yesterday, I mentioned reading Psalm 139 every day for a month. I still believe it is a great idea. But let’s look at some of the other elements in this Psalm. Our God, the Creator of the universe, took great care in designing each of us. And regardless of how happy (or unhappy) we are with His creation, to Him, we are perfect.
Psalm 139 begins with the acknowledgement that God knows us. He knows us inside and out. He knows our actions. He knows our thoughts. He knows what we will speak before we speak them. Now that is knowledge.
The Psalter continues his discourse. Perhaps there were times he wanted to hide from God, but to no avail. God always knew where to find David.  It is the same for us. When sin is active in our lives, our greatest desire is to hide from God. But it’s no use. He knows.
And the greatest part is that God will continue to lead and guide us through those moments. He won’t ever give up on us. God is always there.
And then, Psalm 139 speaks of God’s hands at work in a mother’s womb. God, who planned each part of our world, created you and me. And to Him, we are perfect.
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” (Psalm 139:14-16 – NIV)
Science is continually finding new things about our bodies to amaze us. But to be honest, our amazement shouldn’t be about what scientists have found, but that God created us that specific way.
God knew exactly what He was doing. He knew exactly what functions our bodies would need for survival. He knew how each organ would need to work with others. He was the Architect. The Designer of all creation. Why wouldn’t He get it perfect?
And yes, David expresses this in Psalm 139. He admires the thoughts of God. The endless thoughts that God had for all of creation. Down to the tiniest particle (that science seems to have just found and is interestingly enough called the God Particle), God thought of it.
David doesn’t end the Psalm there. He continues with his desire for God to know him even more. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24 – NIV)
We like David, desire that deep relationship with God. But that means giving God full access to every corner and crevice, every nook and cranny of our lives.
I am thankful for the engineering, perfectionist mind of God. For without it, I could not say that I am exactly who God wants me to be. Without it, I might be considered a mistake. But I am not. I am a child of God. I am His beloved.
The doll house was finished and it is as perfect as any doll house you will find out there. I am thankful for my engineer, perfectionist husband who was willing to take the time to get it right. Thanks Gido, for the perfect doll house.
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
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Rejection after Rejection!

July 8th, 2012 dsisler

I am probably one of the few women in the country who just watched the Help. My husband recorded it for me to watch while he was working. I did. And I’m glad I did.
One of the lead characters, Aibileen, raised children as one of her tasks. She did it well and she loved those children. Each morning, or anytime she felt it was necessary, she would say these words to the children and she would have them repeat them.
“You is kind. You is smart. You is important.”[i]
It’s important to teach young children how valuable they are. Aibileen knew that. She taught them well.
But sometimes, as adults, we feel useless. Like no one really cares about us. That we are not valuable to anyone.
I’ve felt this way for the past two years. Job searching and novel submitting have brought rejection after rejection. And then there are those companies out there who feel that I am not valuable enough to send a “no thank you” response. It’s tough on my heart. It’s tough on my ego. It’s tough.
You may not be in the situation I am in, but you have your own rejection. Perhaps rejection from a spouse or a child. Perhaps rejection from a bank for a loan. Or maybe rejection from a friend. I believe the list could go on…or you could fill in the blank. “Rejection from ___________.”
It’s tough. But I continue to remember how God views me. How He loves me when no one else will. How He believes me to be kind, smart, and important.
I heard of an idea to read through Psalm 139 every day for a month. At the end of the month, great ideas, images, and thoughts would fill our hearts and minds. I believe that.
Psalm 139 holds a verse that I want to target today. “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:14)
It doesn’t matter what the world thinks of me. It only matters what God thinks. And He made me wonderfully. And if I read Psalm 139 every day for a month, He will tell me that daily. Oh how I need to hear these words. Because to be honest, rejection is going to happen again…even today.
So if you are feeling rejection, why not run to our God who created you perfectly? He will embrace you with open arms and tell you how wonderful you are. Because to Him, you are kind, smart, and important…but most of all, you are His.
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna

[i] “The Help”.  Kathryn Stockett, New York: Amy Einhorn Books/G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2009. ISBN-10: 0399155341; ISBN-13: 9780399155345; Tate Taylor (screenplay).
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  • "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe." Ephesians 1:18-19

  • I am a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. I lived in the beautiful state of Colorado for 20 years where I found great inspiration for my novels and devotional writings. Currently living in Jacksonville, Florida.

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